Older Trolling Motor

[old jim]

I have acquired an older torlling motor, there are no connectors on the two
wires that connect to the battery. A black wire and a white wire, the white wire is a larger diameter than the black wire. The white wire connects to the on/off switch, the black runs down the shaft to the motor. So which is positive and which is negative? Thanks, Old Jim

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Older Trolling Motor

This sounds like someone did a rewire and did not do a very good job. Both wires MUST be the same size. On most trolling motors it is the black wire that is hot (+12v) and white is ground. In some cases the hot lead will have a red tracer. Normally, switches are not placed in the ground lead so I will only say that IF (note I said IF) polarity was observed, in this case the white wire is hot. But I would try to determine why there are two different wire sizes. Also look at the switch. If the white battery lead goes into the switch, what color wire goes OUT of the switch. I'm betting it will be red or black which is the HOT lead.